How to attack a corner?

[racer_d]

Originally Posted by yfei

I heard a lot of late apex, and for rear engine cars, one should aim inside of the apex, and throttle hard when get very close to the apex. I think this is true for 911, since the car will slide out, aiming inside of the apex so that car will just hit the apex when reached there.
However, I feel different on Boxster, when throttle hard during a turn, the car won't slide out a lot, instead, i feel the nose actually is pulled into the turn direction. So right now what I do when cornering is, aim slightly outside of the apex (instead of inside), throttle hard when 'close' to the apex. Throttle point is not as close to the apex point as I would do on a 911.
Is this the right way on a boxster? What's the fastest or safest way of cornering?

Some questions first:

How is your car set up? An out of the "box" boxster is set up to UNDERsteer. It will take quite a bit of proviking to get the car to oversteer. Any changes from a stock set up may impact the vehicles basic cornering abilities.

Describe a corner in particular please... Fast sweeper? Slow 180 degree turnaround? On Camber? Off camber? The track/corner will dictate how a turn is to be made sucessfully.

The safest way to take a corner is with a late apex. PCA promotes the late apex approach (historically with 911s because it is the safest way to teach a beginning driver). Usually, a beginner in a 911 will lift off the gas mid-corner, causing severe rotation (ie, spinning off backwards). To prevent this, the driver is encourage to brake for as long as possible in a straight line before turning in for an apex. As a drivers skill advances, the "late" apex approach can be lessened. Skill development will allow even an "old 911" to be trailbraked" into a corner with confidence.

It should also be noted that the difference between an "early" or "late" apex tends to be only a car length or so (15 ft window).. not 100's of feet.

The "911" line won't be a bad line, but it may not be the quickest line, given the Boxsters well balanced handling.